#23 Arkansas Falls in SEC Opener at #1 Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Top-ranked Tennessee out-rebounded #23 Arkansas, 51-29, and made 10-of-26 from 3-pont range to lift the Volunteers to a 76-52 victory in the teams’ 2025 SEC opener Saturday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Chaz Lanier led Tennessee with 29 points, going 5-of-9 from 3-point, while Igor Milicic Jr., had a double-double with 13 points and 18 rebounds.

D.J. Wagner paced the Razorbacks with a season-high 17 points and Boogie Fland added 12 points, three assists and three steals.

Both teams shot about 38% from the field as Arkansas blocked 10 shots. However, the Vols came away with 24 offensive boards to secure the win. Also, while Tennessee only shot 39.1% from the field, the Volunteers had 18 assists on 28 made baskets. Arkansas only had nine assists on its 20 made baskets.

Up next, Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena for a pair of home games starting with Ole Miss on Wednesday (Jan. 8). Tipoff is set for 6 pm and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 27 – Tennessee: 42

• Arkansas led early (12-9) before Tennessee went on a 14-2 run, including a 12-0 spurt) to lead 21-12. D.J. Wagner ended a 6:11 Razorback drought with a free throw.
• Later, Tennessee used an 8-0 run to lead 36-20. Zvonimir Ivisic stopped the run with a 3-pointer.
• Arkansas ended up shooting 42% from the field, compared to 41% by Tennessee.
  • The Razorbacks’ blocked seven shots in the half, including three by Ivisic.
• Tennessee dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Razorbacks 27-12.
• Arkansas was just 3-of-8 from the line. Tennessee was 7-of-8.
• Chaz Lanier led UT with 14 points and Zakai Zeigler had 10. Igor Milicic Jr., had eight points and nine rebounds at the break.
• D.J. Wagner, who scored the Hogs’ first seven points, led Arkansas with eight points.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 25 – Tennessee: 34

• This was the first time Arkansas “lost” the second half this season.
• Down 15 at the break, Arkansas cut it to 13 twice only to see Tennessee answer with 3-pointers each time and never looked back.
• Both teams struggled from the field in the half with Tennessee shooting just 37.5% and Arkansas shooting 34.5%. However, Tennessee was 5-of-12 from 3-point and Arkansas was just 2-of-17.
• Lanier scored 15 of his 29 points in the period.
• Jonas Aidoo scored all four of his points and grabbed all five of his rebounds in the half.

GAME NOTES:

• For the third straight game, Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Jonas Aidoo.
• Tennessee won the opening tip. It was just the second time the Razorbacks have lost the tip this year.
• Tennessee’s Igor Milicic scored the game’s first points with a dunk at 19:45. D.J. Wagner scored Arkansas’ first points with a layup at 18:57.
• Jonelle Davis and Billy Richmond Jr., were Arkansas’ first subs.
• Tennessee now leads the all-time series, 27-2, thanks to four straight wins in the series and wins in 8 of the last 10. All but four of the all-time games in the series have come since Arkansas joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season.
• Since joining the SEC, Tennessee leads the series, 26-19.
• Razorback head coach John Calipari is 22-17 all-time versus Tennessee, including a 9-10 mark in Thompson-Boling Arena.
• Including today’s game, 8 of the last 13 meetings … and 6 of the last 9 … between the programs have been played in Knoxville. The teams have meet in Fayetteville four times over the span and they met once in St. Louis in the 2018 SEC Tournament.
• The Razorbacks are 18-16 all-time in SEC openers and 6-11 when opening SEC play at home.
• Including today’s game, 5 of the last 7 SEC openers for Arkansas have been on the road.
• Arkansas is now 2-1 versus Tennessee in SEC openers. The two wins were games played in Fayetteville.
• Arkansas has only beaten the AP #1 team three times and are 3-12 all time in such games.
• Arkansas is 48-53 all-time when ranked and playing a ranked opponent. The Razorbacks are 4-17 in such games on the road.
• Razorback head coach John Calipari is now 6-6 all-time when playing the AP #1 team.
• Cal is now 1-1 when facing Tennessee and the Vols are #1. Then #5 Kentucky beat then #1 Tennessee, 86-69, on Feb. 16, 2019, in Rupp.
• Coach Cal is 92-70 when his teams are ranked and playing a top 25 team. However, he is just 14-24 in such games on the road.
• Arkansas had 10 rejections at Tennessee and now has blocked at least five shots nine times this season. Arkansas has 38 blocked shots in the last 4 games (9 vs UCA, 9 vs NC A&T, 9 vs Oakland and 10 at UT).

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